Utilizing one hide only...

I've noticed that over the past few weeks Thor is primarily using his "cool" hides... While I know that in general the snake knows best but I don't think I'm doing anything wrong... I have 2 identical hides (2 plastic bowls) ambient temp is 78-80F with the warm side (hot spot measured by Probe) 88-90F and humidity is 65-70%. Any suggestions or let him be (he is eating and acting fine as far as I can tell)?/

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Originally Posted by nickdolin

I've noticed that over the past few weeks Thor is primarily using his "cool" hides... While I know that in general the snake knows best but I don't think I'm doing anything wrong... I have 2 identical hides (2 plastic bowls) ambient temp is 78-80F with the warm side (hot spot measured by Probe) 88-90F and humidity is 65-70%. Any suggestions or let him be (he is eating and acting fine as far as I can tell)?/

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We just got ours and he tends to favor the cool side more

my uth temp is 91-93 always and ambient temp on hot side is like 83-84 and cool side is 76-80

And our guy tends to favor the cool side more

I think he will be fine i wonder about mines if hes warm enough lol but i guess if he gets to cold he will go look for warmth

In my relatively short experience with ball pythons...if they are eating, they are happy! If you are doing something wrong, they will usually let you know by refusing meals.

Remember, they are cold blooded animals. So when they lay on the heat, they are using up energy. Just laying there, they are using more energy than if they were laying on the cool side. They will usually lay on the heat after eating, but will spend most of their time on the cool side.

At least that's my experience,
Jim Smith

My male lays on the warm side usually, while my female prefers the cool side. They both eat great, so I don't worry about it. It's just like us, if I'm cold I go where it's warmer and vise versa.

Humidity could be lower. About 50%.

i read about using 2 hides all the time but i dont get it... how do you fit them both and still have room for a water dish that the snake can soak in.

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Originally Posted by shining apprentice

i read about using 2 hides all the time but i dont get it... how do you fit them both and still have room for a water dish that the snake can soak in.

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Well me, I went to get a 15QT tub for my guy they didnt have any so we picked up a 25QT with fits 2 hides and a water bowl.

Real snug to

Here is a drawing. Not actual size but u get the idea

http://img294.imageshack.us/img294/9123/tubhide.jpg

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Originally Posted by shining apprentice

i read about using 2 hides all the time but i dont get it... how do you fit them both and still have room for a water dish that the snake can soak in.

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You don't need a water bowl big enough for them to soak in. Soaking is usually an indication of a bigger problem.

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Originally Posted by Kaorte

You don't need a water bowl big enough for them to soak in. Soaking is usually an indication of a bigger problem.

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Hmm now that u say that. Iv seen many people post here you do need one big enough to soak in and was on a few care sheets.

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Originally Posted by f4n70m

Hmm now that u say that. Iv seen many people post here you do need one big enough to soak in and was on a few care sheets.

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yeah i thought the same!! :O

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Originally Posted by dembonez

yeah i thought the same!! :O

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Yea iv seen it a few places here. Oh well :P

Directly from the caresheet on this site:
WATER
Your BP should have a readily available supply of fresh water at all times. When possible use a relatively weighted bowl or dish to prevent it from being overturned. Ball pythons are not often known for soaking in their water sources so an oversized container is not necessary unless needed as a means for maintaining adequate humidity. Often snakes who do enter their water supplies for the occasional soak will also defecate in it – so be prepared to clean and replace as needed. It is recommended the water be replaced (not just “topped off”) and the dish cleaned while doing so every few days at a minimum. Bottled water or special additives are not necessary.

ahh ur right haha

well will a small dish still help with humidity? im like 10% off from what i need keep in mind its an empty cage with just substrate i do spray tho and its like 43%

Any water dish will help with humidity, but a larger one will help more.

If you are having trouble with humidity though, there are many things you can do to bring it up. Search the forum and you should find a few topics related to bringing up humidity.

will do thanks :gj:

yea i read that on multiple care sheets and on this website and other snake related forums... They always seem to mention it with shedding related things. I assumed it made sense seeing as i soak them if they have a bad shed(which they always seem to), so why not let them soak themselves.

ive had humidity issues all winter(its around 25%) and ive tired all the options including a humid hide and nothing works, they dont go in the humid hide and if i put them in there they get out asap. I recently bought a humidifier at work that i plan to use while there in the shed process... and a note hte humidity gets better in the summer time but sucks in the winter.

You really don't want them to have something to soak in because they wont soak unless something is wrong. Mites, humidity is way too low, and in some cases even worse problems are at hand. Just give you ball python enough water to last a few days in the heaviest water bowl you can find. All the caresheets say let them soak cause no one ever realizes how high the humidity should be when they are shedding. A constant 40% isn't going to cut it, 70-80% humidity when they are shedding is what they need.

My snake pretty much sleeps all day in the cool hide. Once night time arrives, she hangs out on the warm side, slithers around a little bit. Caught her drinking last night when I came home from drinks with some friends lol.

But to be honest, ask yourself this. How often are you actually staring at your snakes enclosure? A few mins of every day? BP's are much more active at night than during the day. But I'll check in the morning when I change the water out, and then when I get home, and before I go to bed. And she is always in a different position, indicating she has been moving around.

I would say she utilizes the warm side when she needs to warm up, but since you aren't monitoring her 24/7, you just don't really see it ;)

I actually added another hole in his sterilite to bump down the humidity a touch...

My BP is one of those sillies that just chooses whichever hide they like best, almost completely ignoring temperature. :rolleyes: